The KL-Singapore HSR project deserves our full support

 

From Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar

News reports about the recent call from MyHSR Corporation for proposals to develop and operate the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project have sparked countless conversations both locally and abroad.

Considering the tremendous benefits the project would bring to the nation if it is well planned and managed from the start, I applaud the government’s vision to reactivate the HSR through private sector investments.

As the chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) from 2010-2017, now known as the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), I know firsthand the great strides made by SPAD and MyHSR Corporation to develop an integrated and comprehensive plan.

In addition to identifying the technical and engineering specifications in 2018 following initial public inspection exercises, the team also drafted plans that would help unlock potential growth opportunities in the cities and towns between the Klang Valley and Malaysia’s southern corridor.

As proven by countries that have high-speed trains as a core mode of transport, like Japan and Taiwan, timely, well managed development brought about significant prosperity.

In Japan, the Shinkansen train system was part of the country’s National Income Doubling Plan and contributed to Japan growing into the world’s second largest economy during the 1980s. Following its implementation, the GDP of Japan doubled in seven years. taking just five more to double again.

And in Taiwan, the introduction of distinct development themes at each of the five stations along its route have had a positive impact on economic growth, with substantial increases seen in GDP, foreign investment and productivity after the project began.

Ads by Kiosked

Even in Europe, the Paris-Brussels-Cologne high-speed corridor supported a 4.1% GDP boost in Brussels from 1999 to 2004.

Such are the benefits we could derive from the HSR project, not forgetting that closer to home, neighbours like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have also taken steps towards high-speed rail projects of their own.

We will be left far behind if we do not start now.

To the naysayers who have raised concerns about a lack of resources and technical expertise in the country, I ask that they reflect on the time before the first national car was introduced and consider the number of jobs the project created and its contribution to the nation’s economy.

And to those worried about ridership and ticket fares, I am confident industry players in the private sector will do the maths before submitting their proposals to the government.

Both the public and private sectors must also learn from past development projects and adhere to global best practices if they hope to ensure effective collaboration and the success of the project.

Ads by Kiosked

Let’s give the HSR project our full support. - FMT

Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar is a former federal minister and former chairman of Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD), and an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.